Griffin (Pa-455) dam
Griffin (Pa-455)
Griffin (Pa-455) is a vital local government-owned dam located in Clymer Township, Tioga, Pennsylvania, designed by the USDA NRCS. Constructed in 1963, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 37 feet and spans a length of 850 feet along the WEST BEECH WOODS RUN river or stream. With a primary purpose of Flood Risk Reduction, Griffin plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Griffin is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, the dam poses a high hazard potential due to its location and the volume of water it holds. With a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.48 square miles, Griffin serves as a key component in water resource management within the region.
As a centerpiece for flood risk mitigation in Tioga County, Griffin (Pa-455) underscores the importance of infrastructure resilience and proactive monitoring in the face of climate change. Its strategic placement, design specifications, and regulatory oversight demonstrate a commitment to protecting communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events. Enthusiasts and stakeholders in water resources and climate adaptation can find valuable insights in the management and operation of this essential flood control structure.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Griffin (Pa-455) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cowanesque River At Westfield | 213 cfs | → |
| Straight Run | 1 cfs | → |
| Crooked Cr Bl Catlin Hollow At Middlebury Center | 163 cfs | → |
| Cowanesque River At Elkland | 802 cfs | → |
| Tuscarora Creek Above South Addison Ny | 737 cfs | → |
| Tioga River At Tioga | 2,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Griffin (Pa-455).
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Colton Point State Park
- Leonard Harrison State Park
- Hills Creek State Park
- Ives Run
- Tompkins River
- Twin Streams Campground
Track Griffin (Pa-455) in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Griffin (Pa-455)
Where does the data for Griffin (Pa-455) come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Griffin (Pa-455).